Shahe Guebenlian

Sarah Osman writes: Shahe Guebenlian (obituary, April 10) saved my left foot. Gubby was a great friend of my family when we were stationed in Cyprus. The day before Christmas Eve 1961 I slipped away from my mum’s grasp to go to the sea opposite the café where we were lunching. Being only 3 years old at the time, my sense of speed and distance had not yet been fully developed and I stepped into the path of an oncoming Bedford truck.

There was one hell of a mess in the road, as the inadequate and poorly maintained brakes didn’t function.

After a long drive on unsurfaced roads to the nearest hospital, the Greek Cypriot doctors discussed the amputation of my left foot. Fortunately Gubby was there, right at the keyhole of the door to the room where my future was being discussed by the doctors. Using his eavesdropping and linguistic skills, he was able to inform my mum what was going on and also to suggest an alternative doctor in London.

A plane was chartered to transport myself, my mother, a nurse and what was left of my foot to Great Ormond Street, then Mount Vernon, for skin grafts.

Gubby was right; I now have a clumpy club foot but at least it’s mine.

George Sewell

Maggie Allen writes: George Sewell was a pleasure to be around: good-natured, with a ready laugh and always up for any postproduction celebrations. Having enjoyed working with him at Thames Television, I was always delighted when our paths subsequently crossed.

In Glasgow, where I was working for BBC Scotland, he was touring in a play. Within 24 hours of his arrival he had discovered the pub which served the largest measures in the city — because it was full of scaffolding and builders’ rubble — to which he took me before lunch.

There, a tiny, toothless woman shuffled up to him, gazing up with adoration, telling him how much she’d enjoyed him in Special Branch.

Then, inclining her head in my direction, she asked: “Is she an actress?” “No,” he replied, “She’s a waitress I picked up in a restaurant last night.” Her eyes widened as she said to me: “You’ve done well for yourself, eh, hen?”, and George’s delighted laugh could be heard throughout the pub. He brought a lot of fun into many people’s lives and will be sorely missed.

John Lade

John Lade was born on April 8, 1916, not 1917 as stated. We apologise for the error.